“As Seen on TV” Beauty Products That Are Worth Dialing 1-800 For

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Admit it (you’re among makeup-loving friends, after all): You’ve been up too late flipping around the zillions of cable channels only to find—and become completely glued to—a commercial for the latest beauty cure-all. For those of you who’ve wondered if any of that stuff is actually any good, here are eight late-night-TV beauty purchases you won’t regret in the morning.

The Ped Egg Foot Softener

While more than one of our testers referred to this orb-shaped tool as the “foot grater,” this puppy sloughs off way more crud than a pumice stone or foot file, just as the infomercial claims. The ick factor is definitely there, but the final result—super-smooth, callous-free feet—is totally worth it.

Tarte’s emphasEYES Inner Rim Eye Liner

Smooth Away Hair Remover Pads

Sounds too good to be true, right? Believe it or not, there wasn’t an ouch or even a wince when we tested the Smooth Away pads. To use, rub a disk in a circular motion over legs (it didn’t really work on other body parts). The sandpaperlike texture erodes leg stubble (note: that’s stubble, not hair—if you haven’t shaved in ages, it won’t do much), and it has the added benefit of being a subtle skin exfoliator.

Smashbox’s Eye Highlighter and Brightener

This creamy product will help you look wide awake—even if you stayed up late the night before doing a bunch of TV shopping. Just be careful when applying, and be sure to smudge it in gently: If you’re heavy-handed with it, you could end up with big white rings around your eyes.

Clarisonic Facial Cleansing System

Dermatologists have been recommending the Clarisonic—the vibrating, rechargeable pore-cleaning brush—since the original 90210 was on, but recently the beauty gadget has been popping up all over, including on QVC. Our testers were instantly hooked on its super-clean results and its massagelike motion. Yes, the price is steep for a beauty buy—but when you hear it in the TV-ified tally of “three easy payments of $65,” it sounds a little less scary. Plus, did we mention we’re obsessed?

Laura Geller’s Blush-n-Brighten Baked Cheek Color

This pressed powder will give you that dewy, sun-kissed glow without having to stick a liquid blush product—which has high spill potential—in your purse. Just don’t apply it in a dimly lit bathroom unless you want to look like you have a fake ‘n’ bake tan: A little bit of this stuff goes a long, long way.

The Makeup Forever Camouflage Cream Kit

Yes, it looks like a children’s watercolor set, but don’t let that fool you. Many of the celeb and fashion makeup artists we’ve met swear by multicolor palettes like this one from Makeup Forever, which boasts colors that blend easily and leave a perfect, smooth finish. Use a brush to play mix-and-match with these hues to get exactly the right shade for every square inch of your face.

Proactiv Acne Solution

If one of the reasons you’re staying in and catching up on your beauty infomercials is your sudden bout with blemishes, odds are you’ve entertained the idea of ordering the granddaddy of all “as seen on TV” beauty products: Proactiv. Our testers liked the three-step approach of this product line. They happily reported that blemishes disappeared and clear skin appeared in its place within a few weeks of using the product. However, they warned that dry- or sensitive-skin types should use these products with caution. If your skin becomes raw or overly dry with use, our testers suggested limiting your use of Proactiv to once daily or every other day.

Three Custom Color Specialists’ Crème Concealer/Foundation

It might seem daunting to buy foundation makeup—it’s notoriously hard to match it to your skin tone—but if you luck out and pick the right color like we did, you won’t be disappointed. While attaining a sheer look with these products might be tough, it’s ideal for creating a flawless matte old-Hollywood look.